iron from clay

sophisticated

That seems to have happened with the HCl.

Right. Bu then I wouldn't get the knowledge of how to get iron out of the ground. This is sort of a philosophical project, one related to materials, or to materials science.

You can see the chunk of iron I got yesterday, using the thermite method, at:

I wrote that wrong: 'magnetic chunks of alumina.'

This is going to happen in my back yard sometime this summer . . .

thanks.

Bob

I googled 'microwave foundry.' I'm going to get a used oven for this project. Much thanks for this lead. BTW, check out the little chunk of iron I got yesterday, using the thermite on

Bob

Indeed, this was my original plan -- to do it the way our ancestors did it. It seems, though, that I am going to be working my way backwards toward the early methods. Thermite is so simple, right now; and electrolysis might be interesting to try.

Bob

ahh... caught up in playing with the technology :-) have fun; as a source of amusement I definitely recommend the microwave foundry

A friend of mine has gotten on to knife making. He's made a few firebrick forges that consist of a firebrick with a hole drilled the long way to put the metal in, intersecting a hole drilled the short way for the propane torch. It heats the metal cherry red without a problem.

Worth considering. But I'd worry that propane might not be sufficiently reducing, as say with charcoal heat.

I will look into the importance of having a reducing atmosphere in heating the iron/steel for forging. Thanks.

Bob

Same scheme with an acetylene torch running oxygen lean.

nice one. You can build a house with that stuff.

NT

You don't have to melt it. You can work it hot. The first iron/steel swords were hammered together from smaller pieces.

Problem is that it's so small that it cools down on the steel anvil each time I hit it . . .

Bob